The country where COVID-19 was first detected, still has more than 90 million people aged over 60 who are under-vaccinated. This has condemned its cities to a cycle of testing and lockdowns from which it shows few signs of escaping
In a lab in China’s north-eastern province of Jilin, on the border with North Korea, Chinese scientists at Changsheng Biotechnology were working on a vaccine for diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus.
Today China, the country where COVID-19 was first detected, still has more than 90 million people aged over 60 who are under-vaccinated, defined as having had fewer than three shots. This has condemned its cities and businesses to a cycle of testing and lockdowns from which it shows few signs of escaping.In Shanghai, more than two years after the pandemic began, only 62 per cent of 5.3 million people aged over 60 have had one round of a COVID-19 vaccine. In Beijing, only 80 per cent of 3.
Alfred Wu, a professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, says many in China “anticipated that this year would be the year the door would open”. US researchers from George Washington University analysed 11,000 Weibo messages in 2020 and found the Changsheng Biotechnology saga was still having an influence on social media discussions. Then it transformed into wider doubts about the efficacy of vaccines and the actions of the Chinese government.
“They are not confident about their own vaccine,” says Wu. “Officially they say that it is so good, even better than mRNA vaccines, but they don’t trust their own vaccine quality.”“Many elderly people think that they have a small circle of activities,” Hou said last week.
“Though successful in thwarting further outbreaks, these stringent zero-COVID restrictions have further destabilised the local economy, disrupting supply chains and shaking global markets,”said last week. “In light of these severe consequences, the benefits and sustainability of the lockdowns must be challenged.”
Jin Jinshu, a retired teacher who lives with her son in Beijing, says she was convinced to get vaccinated by her neighbourhood managers and an incentive scheme.
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